If you are a motorist in the state of Maryland, there is a very good chance that you have encountered a sobriety checkpoint at least once before. The scene is familiar, and even if you are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time, these checkpoints are, at the very least, an inconvenience and an invasion of your privacy. If you approach a sobriety checkpoint, it is important to know your rights and how to act. Please continue reading and speak with our knowledgeable Maryland criminal and traffic defense lawyer to learn more about sobriety checkpoints and how our firm can help if you have been arrested for a DUI.
Do I have to stop at a sobriety checkpoint?
Although you must stop at a sobriety checkpoint, you do not have to roll down your window or offer identification. You can let the office know through the closed window that you are exercising your right to continue driving past the checkpoint without speaking to them. They must let you pass; however, they can send a police car to follow you and pull you over if you violate any rules of the road.
What are my rights if I get pulled over at a checkpoint?
If you stop at a sobriety checkpoint, and speak with officers, you should be cooperative and polite. They are now allowed to ask you if you have been drinking. They are simply there to advise you of why they are conducting the checkpoint. If the officer claims to smell alcohol emanating from your or your vehicle, they can ask that you pull over for further investigation. If the officer believes that you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, there is a very good chance that he or she will ask you to step out of the vehicle, answer questions, or participate in standardized field sobriety testing. Technically, under the law, you do not have to do any of these things, though there is a very good chance that you will be arrested for failing to submit to chemical testing or a field sobriety test if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
How can an attorney help me if I have been arrested at a sobriety checkpoint?
If you have been arrested at a sobriety checkpoint and charged with a DUI or DWI, it is critical that you retain the services of a knowledgeable Maryland criminal and traffic defense attorney who can assess each aspect of your case to ensure that the sobriety checkpoint was lawfully conducted. If we determine that the checkpoint was unlawful in some way, or that the officer did not have probable cause to arrest you, we will most likely have a viable defense against your DUI charge. Even if your arrest was conducted lawfully, our firm can still work to decrease the severity of your DUI charges. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to give our Maryland criminal defense lawyer a call today.
Contact our experienced Maryland firm
The Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz has decades of experience representing clients in Anne Arundel County and Howard County, Maryland who need legal assistance for criminal defense or personal injury matters. Contact the Law Offices of Debra A. Saltz today to discuss your case.
